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M. P. '0. H'OOPER. WORK HOLDER.

NQ. 517,860. .Patented Apr. 10, 1894.

UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

MARY P. C. HOOPER, OF NEW YORKQN. Y.

WORK-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 517,860, dated. April10, 1894.

' Application filed May 2, 1893. Serial No. 472302. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, MARY P. CARPENTER HOOPER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at New York, county of New York, and

State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inWork-Holders,

fully described and represented in the following specification and theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

' The object of the present improvements is to produce a simple andcomparatively inexpensive and yet make a strong and effective holder forstretching and supporting thin fabrics or material during the operationof embroidering its surface with a stitched pattern, or otherwiseornamenting the same. In performing this operation of embroidering or'ornamenting a thin material, as a textile fabric, it is essential thatthe same be notonly stretched taut so that the complicated pattern maybe worked upon it as by stitching or painting, and that this stretchedcondition shall be maintained for a long time, but that the fabric maybe loosened or detached and be readjusted and when thus manipulated thefabric shall neither be injured nor draw and thus distort the design.Usually this is accomplished by a complicated frame having manyadjustments which are not only complex in their manipulation but areliable to derangement in use whence may result in injury to the fabricor a distortion of the ornamentation or other injury thereto if ithappens during the unfinished condition of the work.

The improved device madeaccording to this invention embodies asupporting frame,

"the worker from abrasion by contact with "said pins, which guard orretainer also acts to prevent the dislodgment of the stretched fabricfrom the pins.

In combination therewith the invention also embraces means for holdingthe parts together 'and preventing their separation in handling orusing.

cured.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the presentimprovements:-Figure 1 is a plan view of the main holder with theprotecting retainer removed. Fig. 2 is a central sectional elevation ofthe holder with the pro- 5 5 tecting retainer adjusted thereon, and aretaining clamp for securing the two together adjusted at one sidethereof. Fig. 3 is an under side elevation of the protecting retainershowing the pin holes therein. Fig. 4. shows an under side elevation ofa modified construction of the protecting retainer. Fig. 5 is aperspective view of the clamp. Fig. 6 is a plan view of a holder. Fig. 7is an under side plan view of the protecting retainer, and 6 Fig. 8 is acentral sectional elevation of the holder and its protecting retaineradjusted together for use. r

The holder H is shown as a ring like structure having dimensions whichwill afiord suitable strength to resist the strain to which it may besubjected. It is provided with a series of pins 2 projecting a suitabledistance above its general surface and made sharp enough .to enable thefabric to be-entered upon them'by the pins passing the meshes betweenits composing threads. In its use that portion ofthe fabric F which isstretched taut by being drawn over this holder is secured in thatcondition by forcing it over the pins 2, which thus hold it in alldirections. In manipulating the fabric while thus sup ported by thisholder as by drawing threads through it in the operation of embroideringor pre ssi ng upon it as in the act of painting,

it follows that much strain is exerted upon the holder and hence since acircular form of the holder is the strongest disposition of the materialcomposing it, that form is preferred,

but anyother conformation may be used aco cording to the degree ofstrength which is possessed by the material composing it. Th us,

if wopd is used the circular form would be advisable; but if laminae ofwoodor paper sheets or a consolidated mass of paper, cellu- 5 loid orother strong compound be the "mate-- rial, then various other shapes maybe adopted, so long as a central working space is se- In order toprotect the fingers and hands roe pins as in Fig. 2, forms a protectingcovering which will not only present no abrading surface butadditionally perform the function of preventing the fabric Ffrom beingdetached from thepins 2. The holes 3 may be small enough to fit tightlyupon the pins 2 and thus hold the protecting retainer P in positionthereon, but in order to secure the adjusted relation of the protectingretainer P and holder H, there may be provided a clamp C (see Fig. 5)which consists of a spring body and clamping ends 4., 5, which will withspring like pressure clamp the protector and holder together, when oneor more of such clamps are adjusted, as shown in Fig. 2. It. is notessential that this protector should be a rigid and continuous body. Itmay consist of a number of pieces P, as in Fig. 4, united} together by aband as 10, preferably elastic,i said detached protectors P being eitherprovided with holes adapted to snugly fit upon 1 the pins 2 or made ofsome soft material 1 able for the reception and removal of the intowhich the said pins may be pressed.

A preferableembodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8,where the holder H is shown as composed of two parts, a body 20 with cap30, the body 20 being provided, with headed pins2 which are enteredthrough; the body 20 so that their sharp ends will pro-j ject above thesame, and which pins 2 are held in place by the application to the body20 of the cover 30 which thus confines the heads of said pins, andprevents their becoming detached. The protecting retainer P in thisinstance is made of some material, such as paper, which is capable ofhaving the pins' 2 entered into it by slight pressure, and while thisprotector may be unprovided therewith, it is preferable to form it witha slot 15 adapted} to receive the ends of the pins 2 and yet bind orclamp the same so that the protector may be entered thereon with regardto its circular ad-; justment and held in place by friction. In thislatter construction the protector may be composed of a rigid material asis obvious.

As a means for fastening the protecting re-j tainer and holder togetherwhich is at once simple and efficient they are provided with. coincidingholes 6, 7 at a suitable number of points so that when the two areadjusted to-' gether with the fabric F clamped between:

them, tie strings may be passed through these holes to hold themtogether. Thus ispro-;

vided a simple, cheap, eflicient and useful holder for securing in adistended condition a fabric that requires to be stretched taut when itis worked upon, either with needle work, painting or other manipulation,which may be handled without danger of deranging or distorting thefabric, and with it the fabric may be readily arranged and readjusted,

as is apparent.

The holder H is shown as rigid, and although that isi't'he preferableembodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that a simplestructure having adjustable parts when supplied with a guard or retainerwill embrace the invention and be practically rigid and strong enoughfor some qualities or kinds of work.

What is-claimed is- 1. A holder for supporting a fabric for receivingornamentation, consisting of a frame that provides an unobstructedworking space within it, which frame has a. multiplicity of projectingimpaling pins for retaining the fabric stretched over-them, and aprotecting covering retainer for the pins that is detachable for thereception and removal of 'the fabric, substantially as described.

2. A holder for supporting a fabric for receiving ornamentation,consisting of a frame that provides an unobstructed working spacewithinit, which frame has a multiplicity of projecting impaling pins forretaining the fabric stretched over them, and a protecting coveringretainer for the pins that is detachfabric and, is provided with meansfor securing it in place over the pins, substantially as described. U jt t j t v 3. A holder for supporting a fabric forreceivingornamentation, consisting of a frame that provides anunobstructed working space within it, which frame has a multiplicity ofprojecting impaling pins for retaining the fabric stretched over them,anda protecting covering retainerfor the pins that is detachable for thereception and removal of the fabric that is provided with pin enteringspaces of smaller area thanthe pins, whereby the latter operate to holdthe retainer in place, substantially as described.

4. A holder for supporting a fabric for receiving ornamentation,consisting of aframe that provides anunobstructed working space withinit, which frame has a multiplicity of projecting impaling pins forretaining the fabric stretched over them, and at protecting coveringretainer for thepins that is detach- .able for the reception and removalof the fabric and composed of a material readily entered by said pins,substantially as described. j t l 5. A holder for supporting a fabricfor receiving ornamentation,consisting of a frame that provides anunobstructed working space within it, which frame hasa multiplicity ofprojecting impaling pins for retaining the fabric stretched over them,and aprotec ting covering retainer for the pins that is detachable forthe reception and removal of the IOC fabric and constructed to receivethe pins my handin the presence of two subscribing within its body, saidframe having holes, as witnesses. 7, and said retainer having holes, as6, which holes are adapted to receive fastenings for MARY HOOPER' 5securing the retainer upon the holder, sub- Wifinesses:

stantially as described. G. M. BORST, In testimony whereof I havehereunto set T. F. KEHOE.

